Clasp



Nov. 1, 1932. F. ROULEAU' CLASP Filed March 7, 1952 Patented Nov 1, 1932 P T NT OFFICE I FLORAL. ROULEAU, or on LAnn, camronnm CLASP Applicationfiled March 7, 1932. Serial No. 597,392.

This invention is a clasp intended more especially for fastening wearing apparel and has for its object the provision of a device which may be easily manipulated to secure 3 the parts of an opening in wearing apparel in closed position and just as easily manipulated to permit a separation of the parts.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and consists in certain novel Y features which will be hereinafter first fully described and then more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing'th-e parts of the clasp in the position assumed when the parts are separated or a garment is opened,

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a slight modification,

I Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 20 3-3 of Fig. 1 this figure showing a variation,

Fig. 4 is a view, partly in section and partly in plan, on the line 44 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail side view of the body of the clasp in partly completed condition,

Fig. 6 is a top plan view.

The clasp or fastening constituting the present invention is intended for application more particularly to the shoulder straps of an apron but it is, of course, applicable to Various articles of wearing apparel or for fastening any separable elements. In Fig. l of the accompanying drawing, the invention is shown applied to two shoulder straps 1 and 2 which may be attached to an apron for the purpose of supporting the same upon a wearer. As shown most clearly in Fig. 1, the strap 1 has an eyelet 3 secured therein so as to define an opening through which the cooperating clasp may be inserted and this eyelet is, of course, permanently attached to the strap or other material so as to reinforce the opening and prevent wear upon the edges oi. the same.

pressed or stamped from sheet metal and having the form of a cap or cylindrical stud the diameter of which will permit it to pass through and closely fit within the eyelet 3, as

Mounted upon the other strap 2 isa body consisting of a cap 4, preferably will be understood upon reference to Fig. 3. The body or stud 4 is provided with an annular flange 5'. in the form shown inFigs. 1, 3 and'5, which will constitute the base of the stud and will bear directly against the'strap 201' other garment member. As shown in Fig. 1 this base flange has openings formed therein at intervals through which stitches 6'may be passed to secure the stud in position upon the garment so that it will be firmly secured'in place. In the form shown in Fig. 2, however, the base flange 7 is extended so as to form a sleeve fitting around the strap 2, as shown at'8, so that it may he slid along the strap to any, desired point thereof and thereby adjusted so as to engage'in' any one of a series of eyelets providedin the cooperating garment member. a I 5 Referring more particularlyto Fig.3, it will be noted; that asupplemental or inner rap 9. ispro'x 'ided which cap consists of a cylindrical body of less axial extent than'the stud 4 and an annular base flange 10 at the open side of the cylindrical body, the cylindrical body being closed at one end or side 7 by a'web 11, as shown. This cap 9 isa rein forcement which is fitted against the undersideof the strap or garment member 2 and pressed-through the same so that it will be clamped .firmly between the holding cap and C the stud, the stitches 6 being unnecessary when the clampingcap is used. As shown in Fig. 3 ,an opening is formed in the strap or other member 2 to accommodate the holding orclamping cap, but this opening is not entirely necessary and in many instances the garment member may be merely pressed inwardly by theiapplication of the cap thereto. As has been stated, the stud or body 4 is stamped orlpressed. from sheet metal and in the course of its manufacture H-shaped openings, indicated at 12 in Fig. "5, are formed in the sides of the stud defining tongues 13 which are subsequently pressed inwardly, as shown most clearly in Fig. A,

whereby-slots ldareproduced in the sides of the stud atdiametrically opposite points of the same. Disposed within the stud and resting upon-or against the web 11 of thecap- 9is a dog consisting of a strand of wire Zi'ill formed into an S-shaped spring 15 and having its ends formed into eyes 16 projecting through the slots 14, as shown clearly in Fig. 4. The resiliency of the intermediate portion of the strand of wire tends constantly to maintain the eyes 16 in the projected position shown in Figs. 3 and 4. If the stud 4 be pushed through the eyelet 3, the eyes 16, which constitute the active members of the dog, will be forced inwardly by riding against the convex surfaces of the eyelet and consequently will be retracted to positions within the stud and permit the stud to pass entirely through the eyelet, but as soon as the dog has cleared the smallest diameter of the bore of the eyelet, the eyes 16 will spring outwardly and assume positions at the back of the eyelet, as shown in Fig. 3, whereby the eyelet will be firmly held between the dog and the base flange of the stud so that the garment will be fastened or the straps 1 and 2 will be held together. When the garment is to be opened or the straps released, however, the dog and its eyes 16 will yield to a direct pull exerted upon the fastened parts, as will be understood. It may be noted, upon reference to Fig. 3, that the top of the stud is slightly indented, as shown at 17, and it may be ornamented in any approved manner, as indicated in Fig. 6.

The device is very simple and efficient. Theinturned tongues 13 of the stud present guards or guides to reinforce the stud at the openings 14 in its sides and also maintain the dog in the proper position to perform its allotted functions, shifting of the dog within the stud circumferentially thereof being positively prevented by said tongues or flanges. The clasp, according to the present invention, may be produced at a slight cost and may be very easily applied to any wearing apparel, purses, or other articles. It is composed of few parts and is not apt to collapse nor get out of order, and, when applied to a garment, will not detract from its appearance nor add perceptibly to its weight. It will not interfere with any desired scheme of ornamentation -or trimming but may often enhance the same.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A clasp comprising a hollow stud having an annular base and a cylindrical body closed at its end remote from the base and provided at diametrically opposite points in its side with openings, inwardly extending tongues at the ends of said openings disposed in a diametrical plane of the body, and a resilient dog housed within the stud in the same plane as the tongues with each of its ends disposed between the tongues at one of the openings and arranged to project through the openings whereby to engage over a member through which the stud may be inserted so that said member will be held by the dog against the base of the stud.

2. A clasp comprising a hollow stud, a base extending annularly of the stud, a resilient dog housed in the stud and having its ends projecting through the sides of the stud to engage a member through which the stud is inserted whereby said member will be held by and between the dog and the base, and a cap fitting within the stud and having an annular base and a cylindrical body to clamp material against the base of the stud and the inner walls of the stud respectively, the cap having a web within the stud supporting the In testimony whereof I affiX my signature.

' FLORA L. ROULEAU. [L. s.]

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